Portable electric current tap device



y 14, 1935- J. VILLA 2,001,671

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CURRENT TAP DEVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1932 INVENTOR:

/ TT0RNEYS.

W1 TNESSES:

Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE ELECTRIC CURRENT TAP DEVICE John Villa, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Max W. Bieberbach, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.

Application September 3, 1932, Serial No. 631,661

'1 Claim.

are cumbersome and therefore operate to restrict the free manipulation of applianceslike electric irons for example.

My invention is directed in the main toward overcoming the above recited drawbacks through provision of a simple and compact portable tap device with facilities whereby it may be connected to a wall or floor outlet, which is capable of placement on a table or other support remote from the outlet, and which embodies receptacles for attachment of the conductor cords of the appliances, a switch whereby the electric current may be turned on and on, and a visual means to indicate flow of the current through the appliance.

Other'objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the detailed description following of the attached drawings whereof Fig. I shows a perspective view of my improved portable electric current tap device.

Fig. II is a plan view of the device with the top cover removed; and

Fig. III is a cross section taken as indicated by the arrows III-III in Fig. II.

As herein illustrated, my improved current tap device comprises a hollow rectangular box-like block which is preferably made from a suitable di-electric material sufficiently heavy to resist displacement of the device when resting on a table or other support. Transversely arranged within the hollow of the block 5 are a snap switch 6; a socket mounting l for an incandescent current flow indicating bulb 8; and a double receptacle 9 for the prongs of the conductor plugs (not As shown in Fig. I, the hollow block 5 is closed by a flush cover plate l5 which is formed with a slot for projection of the actuating lever [6 of the snap switch 6; an aperture with an inset jewel i'i directly over the incandescent current flow indicating bulb 8; and apertures through which the faces 13 of the double receptacle 9 are exposed, said cover being detachably fastened by screws 26 that take into metallic portions of the elements 8, l and 9.

To facilitate dissipation of the heat of the incandescent bulb 8,.the hollow block 5 is provided in its opposite sideswith escape apertures indicated at 25 in Figs. I and. III. The flexible cord 22 through which the electric current is conducted to the tap device enters the block 5 by way of an opening at one end of the latter, and has its component leads 23 and 24, connected to the terminals of the switch 6. The cord 22 is in this instance fitted with a plug 25 capable of being screwed into a wall or floor outlet. The incandescent bulb 8 and the double receptacle 9 are suitably connected in circuit with the switch 6 by conductors not illustrated in the drawings.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the tap device of my invention is serviceable as a means of current supply at a point remote from a wall or floor outlet for connection of electric appliances of various kinds. By virtue of its readypo-rtability, the device can be placed on any suitable support in any position for convenient actuation of the snap switch 6 and for observation of the current-indicating incandescent bulb 8 at all times, by the operator. My invention thus makes possible the use of comparatively short conductor leads on the electric appliances so that the latter may be manipulated with the utmost freedom and ease and without liability of entanglement of said cords.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A portable electric current tap device comprising a block of combustible material having a longitudinal recess in one face thereof and having open grooves formed in the longitudinal walls thereof adjacent said recess, said block also having ventilating apertures in the opposite longitudinal walls thereof, a unitary metal shield eX- tending the entire length of said recess and having a depressed central portion co-extensive therewith and extending into said recess and spaced from the longitudinal walls thereof for purposes of ventilation, said shield having integral lateral flanges extending into the longitudinal grooves in said block and secured thereto, a manually operable switch device having metallic supporting portions extending partially over the integral flanges of said shield and secured thereto; a socket mounting having metallic supporting portions ment receptacle having metallic supporting portions extending partially over the integral flanges of said shield and secured thereto, a cover plate adaptedto fit over, said block and securedto said metallic supporting portions of said switch de- I vice, said socket mounting and said attachment receptacle, said cover plate having spaced openings therein through which said switch device and said attachment receptacle are accessible and a jewel mounted thereon andthrough which said current flow indicating bulb is visible, and an electric cord connected to said switch device, said attachment receptacle and said socket and having means for connection to a wall outlet or other source of electric current;

JOHN VILLA. 

